If you haven’t been to House of Brews in Gilbert lately, you might be surprised on your next visit. The rejuvenated craft beer bar and grill has added 21 beer taps, bringing its current total to 47.
Another nine taps are due to be installed in the next few weeks. When that happens, House of Brews’ number of draft beer offerings will rank it among the top five bars in the East Valley.
“The additional taps allow me to do two things,” says general manager Tim McGovern. “First, I can make more of them nitro. And second, I’m getting more local beers that need love on tap.”
HOB currently has four nitro taps and will add a fifth to accommodate the ever-increasing number of nitrogenated craft beers. About a third of HOB’s beer list is brewed in Arizona.
Committed to Arizona beers
“I want to commit to every Arizona brewery having a place to sell their beer,” McGovern says. “There are so many great Arizona breweries.”
That’s a big change from last year when HOB, despite its name, was paying little attention to the beers it was offering. The then-struggling bar closed in January, reopened under new ownership in February, and closed again in March.
Current owner Glenn “Buzzâ€Â Bezuyen bought the bar and reopened it in August with a focus on better food, better beer, and better service.
Improving the food menu was McGovern’s first priority. Then he turned his attention to the beer. Now HOB is using craft beers in food recipes, hosting regular beer dinners, and promoting beers from throughout the state.
An Arizona first: Digital Pour
Next up: A new electronic beer list from Oregon-based Digital Pour. Large TV screens will list the beers on tap, the style, the brewery, the ABV, and even how much is left in the keg.
“They’re telling us that we’ll be the first bar in Arizona to have it,” says McGovern, adding the information also will be accessible via HOB’s website and social media platforms.
Despite the new emphasis on craft beer, McGovern says House of Brews will continue to welcome beer drinkers of all types.
“We still have $2.50 Bud Lights,” he says. “My dad was a Miller Lite drinker. I’m not going to turn up my nose at someone who wants to drink Ultra all day.”
